Willmeng Construction

Adam Escobar, Chief Integration Officer and VP of Finance is originally from Santa Rosa, California. A California native, Adam spent the beginning of his career in San Diego before moving to Arizona in 2005.

At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Adam received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. Having a father as a CPA in northern California who he always looked up to, Adam was destined for a career in finance and accounting.

Adam spent the past six years working for three of the primary companies attributed with transforming the single-family rental home industry from being a private venture among individuals and small investment groups to a national platform of large companies traded on the NYSE.

As a start-up in 2013, Colony American Homes recruited Adam to setup an accounting structure that could efficiently operate tens of thousands of rental homes across the nation by using his past experience and passion for building scalable back-office operating models.

When Colony American Homes merged with Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust in 2016 to form Colony Starwood Homes, Adam oversaw the merger integration and worked with auditors to ensure compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Less than two years later, the newly formed company merged with Invitation Homes to create a company that owned more than 82,000 homes in 13 markets across the nation.  The transition from just a few thousand homes in a private equity start-up to the publicly traded Invitation Homes REIT, was thrilling for Adam to be part of.

Adam continued as Vice President of Accounting for Invitation Homes and managed five reporting groups based in Dallas and Scottsdale consisting of two directors, a controller, nine managers, and over 40 support staff. Adam has been a member of the Institute of Management Accountants since 2008 and is a Certified Management Accountant.

When a friend told Adam about Willmeng, he was immediately drawn to the company’s values and initiatives. At Willmeng, Adam is responsible for implementing new accounting software to increase efficiency and productivity. As Willmeng continues to grow, Adam leads the charge in utilizing technology and building a lasting structure for years to come.  Aligning with Adam’s personal core values of honesty and respect, he believes that the more he can involve others in projects at Willmeng, the stronger the overall team becomes. Respect and equality inside and outside of the company allows Adam to treat everyone fairly.

In his free time, you’ll find Adam spending time with his wife, Carolyn, and kids Logan, Brenden, and Tianna. He is currently teaching his sons to play baseball and develop their skills on the golf course. Between working on various house projects and picking up the guitar to jam with his daughter on the piano, Adam values staying connected to family and friends.

Growing up in the small town of Great Bend, Kansas, Cody Phelan demonstrated a ‘can-do’ attitude and tremendous work ethic early on. At nine years old, he was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, a hip disorder causing bone loss and deformity of the hip socket. He spent a month in the hospital, and doctors said that he would likely never run or play sports. Defying the odds, he went on to play high school basketball and football, and as a senior helped lead his high school basketball team to the state playoffs.

Cody’s drive to succeed brought him to Kansas State University, and then to University of Nevada Las Vegas where he worked at a general contracting firm and received a Bachelor of Science in Finance.

Cody continued to develop his career in construction on large scale office, industrial, retail projects in the Valley, starting as an intern and moving quickly through management positions over an eight-year span to ultimately lead a large, Fortune 500 general contracting firm as Division Manager. Through this experience, he participated in constructing large-scale projects such as Scottsdale Quarter, and Palms Resort Casino and Spa, a large-scale resort expansion in Las Vegas and multi-project sites in a campus-style environment.

This experience perfectly positioned him to join Willmeng in Fall 2012 as they anticipated the need for talent in large-scale projects and a laser focus on client care. Through his career, Cody has built solid reputation in large ground-up and tenant improvement projects for markets such as retail, hospitality, office, mixed-use, medical and industrial. Growing in his role over several years with the company, he has executed these projects from preconstruction through construction as a Sr. Project Manager, Division Manager, and now Principal-in-Charge. Cody’s determination in life is demonstrated in his work today and as he leads a team.

Cody leads with the awareness that every role on his team is equally important, and openly offers his knowledge on all aspects of project management, from preconstruction to completion, to enable the team to deliver the best results.

Outside of the office, Cody enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, as well as golfing, hiking and traveling.

Notable Projects:

Kyrene 202 Business Park, Phase II

The Grand Management Office & Lounge

Trammell Crow Tolleson Logistics Center

Wentworth West 80

GlobalTranz

Mach 1

Global E-Commerce Company

Isam Ghandour has a diverse background of all aspects of the building industry, including architecture, civil engineering and construction. He began his career by earning his Bachelor of Science degree in architecture engineering from the University of Khartoum in Sudan. He worked as an architect for one year before moving to the US and earning his master’s degree in civil engineering/construction management from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. He interned with the Illinois Department of Transportation, working on a surveying crew. He moved to Arizona in 1997 and got a position as a project manager with Mardian Contractors for almost five years. Isam joined the Willmeng Construction team in 2002 as a Project Manager/Estimator.

His knowledge of the design process and his impressive project résumé make him a great asset to the team at Willmeng Construction. He has led the preconstruction and estimating efforts on numerous projects including Design-Bid-Build, CM@Risk ADM and design/build. The breadth of his experience includes office, industrial, retail, and tenant improvement projects to name a few.

Isam is a Certified Professional Estimator (CPE), Certified Professional Constructor (CPC) and Certified Construction Documents Technologist (CDT), is a member of the American Society of Professional Estimators, American Institute of Constructors, Sigma Lambda Chi and Chi Epsilon.

Isam is a huge soccer fan. He says he prefers to watch it, but adds that away from the office he enjoys kicking the ball around occasionally. He also enjoys traveling with his wife and children.

James Murphy, Willmeng’s CEO, was born and raised in the expanses of the West, including Texas and Idaho, though he calls Arizona “home.”

He earned a bachelor of science degree in Construction Management from the Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University and a master’s degree from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at ASU.

In college, James was an intern for Martin K. Eby and the Lawrence Livermore National Lab in Danville, Calif. Mardian Contractors, Inc., was his first full-time home, working as a project manager while going to school as an undergraduate. Projects completed while at Mardian range from a 400′ tower on top of South Mountain to several new facilities at the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Wittmann, Arizona.

James joined Willmeng in 1999 as a project manager, hired by then owner and founder Jack Willmeng. The concept of an eventual buyout and the opportunity to work with and for Jack is what brought James to the firm. James had a very clear vision of who he wanted to learn from, “I wanted to learn from an owner/operator that had a clearly successful track record in the industry. That was very clear in Jack. He had positioned himself to retire in his early 50s; his reputation proceeded him, and I wanted the chance to see if I had what it took to continue on with the company in due time.” James purchased the company in 2006 and became President and CEO.

James has spent time in every position in the firm, including project manager, estimator and vice president prior to his current role. From the top down, the entire team is committed to do what it takes and, “Make it Happen” for their clients.

James has been named Most Admired Leader by the Phoenix Business Journal, honored by ASU’s Alumni Group as a four-time inductee into the Sun Devil 100, and being named to the Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

He serves on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley, and is committed to training the next generation of leaders through NAIOP Arizona’s Mentorship program and through teaching programs at the Arizona Builders Alliance and the Del E. Webb School of Construction at ASU. James has spoken on local, regional and national levels through many associations and companies such as the Associated General Contractors and NAIOP, seeking his insight and guidance on such topics as building an exceptional culture, hiring, strategic planning and organizational environments.

If it’s happening in the great outdoors, chances are that’s where you will find James when he is not working, particularly hunting and fishing. He can also be found on a baseball diamond or football field coaching his son James; and spending time with his daughter Audrey.

Keith is from Southern New England’s Fairfield, Conn. Growing up he aspired to be a meteorologist, but his destiny to land in the construction industry was undeniable. Keith’s father is a third-generation stone mason who started Sabia Construction upon his return from WWII, and Keith was born into the industry. While visiting Arizona in 1990, Keith saw a great opportunity in the state and region, and began calling Phoenix ‘home’ in 1993.

Keith’s construction experience spans over three decades, first in the field as a project superintendent and then as a senior project manager. Keith eventually landed in the procurement department where he secured and managed pre-construction projects. Keith’s professional experience includes procuring and managing Alternate Project Delivery Method projects, including design-build and CMAR projects, throughout Arizona and the Southwest.

Keith transfers his model of thinking through the owner’s perspective into multiple project types, and this investment in a collaborative approach with the architect, facilities and the end-user, coupled with construction best practices and value engineering techniques, results in facilities that provide maximum life-cycle benefits.

At Willmeng, Keith leads a dynamic and diverse team heavily experienced in the public and private sectors, including the active pursuit of charter schools, fire stations and public safety facilities, and aviation projects. He works directly with owners, architects, and consultants in an integrated design approach to offer accurate preliminary cost projections, guaranteeing project budgets in the early stages of development and creating a master schedules as a true team partner.

Having built nearly 50 fire-related projects, he has spent significant time observing the use and greatest value needs of the facilities and has traveled the nation to observe functions, efficiencies, and building methods required to build best-in-class facilities.

Keith is a graduate of the Arizona Builders Alliance’s Senior Executive Program and is a previous participant of the association’s Leadership Development Forum and sits on the CM Program Advisory Board for Northern Arizona University, and is a member of the GFTA. He also completed FEMA’s Design Security class, a course sponsored by the Phoenix Fire Department, earning a certification to conduct threat assessments for projects to uphold Homeland Security standards.

Keith is married with three children and is a talented wood trim carpenter outside of the office.

The adage “there is no substitute for experience” accurately describes Mike Mongelli. Born in Hawthorne, Nev., and raised in Carson City, Mike spent his high school summers working in the construction industry. His jobs included underground pipe installation and cabinetry work in the area casinos.

Mike moved to Arizona in 1978 and attended Arizona State University. In 1983 he graduated with a bachelor of science degree from ASU’s College of Construction. He moved up the ranks at various development and construction companies in Arizona and Nevada before joining Willmeng in 2011 as Chief Operating Officer, where he provided leadership and managed the daily business operations from preconstruction to project completion.

In 2020, Mike moved into the role of president and provides leadership to over 140 employees in a growing firm and management to key projects and daily business operations, from preconstruction set-up through construction in the field.

He brings a dynamic dimension to Willmeng, utilizing his diverse knowledge and experience to position Willmeng as a leading general contractor in Arizona.

Mike is a LEED Accredited Professional, which influences his recommendations and approach in all projects to be thinking sustainability. His approach to the business is also built on focus and vision.

Family also plays an important role in Mike’s life, and he also makes volunteering on Willmeng’s behalf a priority. He gives of himself to Andre House and works the grill flipping hamburgers and hotdogs for the NAIOP Arizona feeding the homeless philanthropic program.

When he’s not in the office, Mike enjoys family, boating, traveling, and spending time in Rocky Point.

Notable Projects:

Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems
The Reserve at San Tan – Phase II
Peddler’s Sons Produce Facility
Cosma Power Systems
Infusionsoft Headquarters
Consumer Cellular

Chris Brown, Senior Estimator at Willmeng, is an Arizona native through and through. Born and raised in Casa Grande, he didn’t go far when he settled in Phoenix.

At Arizona State University, Chris studied engineering. He then transferred to Western International University where he graduated with a degree in business management.

Coming from a long line of construction workers going back generations, Chris started his career in construction in 2003. During high school, he spent every summer remodeling houses and honing his skills as a carpenter. From carpenter, he worked his way up to a superintendent role. From there, Chris continued to climb and in 2010, he moved into estimating.

In 2015, Chris joined the Willmeng team as Senior Estimator, where he also acts as the pre-construction manager and leads the BIM and BDC efforts within the company. With extensive background actually working in the construction field, Chris has the unique ability to see how 2D plans will look when they come to life. Conceptually, Chris can look at drawings, know what needs to happen, and in what order, for everything to successfully come to life.

Chris is a member of ASPE and has his AGC BIM Certification. He has been involved in Young Life since 1998 as a volunteer, donor, and fundraiser. Chris also participates in fundraising for Girl Scouts of America.

You can promote the carpenter to Senior Estimator, but don’t be surprised if he spends his weekends woodworking and remodeling homes. In his free time, Chris enjoys getting back to his construction and carpentering roots as well as road and mountain biking.

As the director of client and pre-construction services at Willmeng, Keyvan Ghahreman works to further develop client service strategies that build their place of purpose. His understanding of construction ranges from field engineering and project engineering to preconstruction management and business development, allowing him to see projects from start to finish while adding exceptional perspective along the way.

Much of Keyvan’s professional experience has involved delivering Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) projects. As a member of Willmeng’s leadership team, Keyvan assists in guiding the company towards fulfilling its strategic goals.

Keyvan stays actively involved in the industry and community by serving on CoreNet Arizona’s Board of Directors, the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) as the Chair of the Government Affairs Committee and is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and serves on the Board of Directors for the Herberger Theater Center.

After graduating from Occidental College with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts, he was hired as the technical director for Occidental’s performing arts facilities where he ran a scene shop, which entailed planning, estimating, scheduling and building scenery for theatrical productions. He went on to earn a master’s in construction from the Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University.

Keyvan was born in Iran, grew up in Las Vegas and moved to Arizona in 1996. Outside of the office, he loves hiking, biking, skiing, and camping. He enjoys coaching his children’s AYSO soccer teams, and volunteering with Feed My Starving Children.

Notable Projects:

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Aviation Services Renovation
 

Growing up in the northern California city of Walnut Creek, Thomas “TJ” Jarvis landed his first job at the age of 11 tossing newspapers for the Contra Costa Times. And his work ethic has been unwavering ever since.

Tom moved to Arizona in 1998 to attend Arizona State University. He got his first taste of the construction industry as a carpenter at Southwest Scenic Group in Tempe. A few years later, he met Jack Willmeng, who offered him an opportunity to explore the construction industry through an internship. After just a month, he was a full-time estimator in a growing company, providing estimating services on a variety of projects.

Tom’s career has flourished during his tenure at Willmeng. With more than 11 years at the firm, he has held several positions and taken on levels of responsibility. He currently serves as Partner & VP of Pre-Lease Estimating, managing a team providing estimating services and support for client projects.

Tom attributes much of the company’s growth, as well as his own career growth, to the focus the entire team places on client service. This includes involvement in upfront, real-time cost estimating services that support the successful deal-making ability of owners, developers, brokers, and architectural teams.

Intimately involved in business development and client development through associations and philanthropic activities, Tom serves on the Board of Directors for NAIOP Arizona and Executive Council 70.

Tom’s values are defined by faith, family, friends, and food. He deeply values time with his wife Karen and twin boys Charlie and Luke, and enjoys a wide variety of interests including cooking and sports.

Growing up in Vista, California, Chris Albus knew from the young age of 18 that he wanted to pursue a career in the construction industry. With an ambitious goal of being a superintendent, he broke ground on his career, obtaining his first job at Lusardi Construction as a day laborer for their steel, stake, and lumber pile. Chris spent his time preparing the four-story tall lumber pile for the field by stripping, cleaning, oiling, and straightening the steel stakes with a sledgehammer and anvil.

Chris graduated from a four-year ABC program at Mira Mesa College in 1992, while maintaining a full-time job.

When asked to relocate to Arizona in 1995 by Lusardi Construction, Chris jumped at the opportunity to gain experience and grow his construction field skills. During his time as a superintendent for Lusardi Construction, Chris was given the opportunity to build a variety of projects; including the Chauncey Ranch Auto Mall Scottsdale, Perimeter Center Scottsdale, Bank of America Recovery Center, and multiple tilt-up warehouses. Through these experiences, Chris developed a passion for supporting the field team and project managers to help them maintain healthy balance in their work.

Chris began his career at Willmeng as operation support manager in 2016, where he served as the bridge between the field and the office. As a key communicator, he ensured superintendents maintained a healthy work balance that supported the project managers in the analysis of project scheduling and planning.

Chris currently serves as Willmeng’s Director of Field Operations, where he evaluates and improves field operations; including, hiring field personnel, proactively managing logistics, ensuring adequate skill level on projects, and offering resources to field staff.

As a member of the Arizona Growth Advisors Association, Chris has spent the last two years taking leadership courses around performance and management. He also works with the Arizona Department of Education to validate the Standards for Construction Technologies.

Chris deeply values time with his wife, Ronda, and leading his two young boys to carry out that same mutual respect for others. When Chris isn’t spending his weekends cheering on his sons at hockey and soccer games, he enjoys hitting the trail on his mountain bike. Some of his favorite places to ride are right in his backyard in North Phoenix.